Today is the day, It's got to be!! Scared!! W/D from Norco

[InNeed88]

So i've been reading everyone's posts for weeks now...I'm wanting to quit so badly but it's those stupid pills telling me why I shouldn't. I also have so much other stuff going on in life right now this is a awful time, and that's my excuse i keep telling myself that i should wait till after i move in a month to stop or i should try to taper*which doesnt work for me* cause i cant miss any work!!
I started taking Norco 10/325 about 5 years ago, Mind you i'm only 24...I have a herniated disc's in my back and sciatica...At first it helped the pain but i hated how i felt on them...The problem didnt really start untill about 2 years ago, Now i cant go through the day with out it...It's to the point where if something bad happens or im in a stressfull situation i'll take one, not even thinking about if my back's hurting or not. I know it's time to just end it. For once and for all...So i will be living on these forums for the next few months, I'm stopping at the store on my way home tonight to go and pick up all the things i'll need, Gotta do a little clean up around the house to prepare for what's to come!! It ***** awful cause I really cant miss any work, But i did this to myself, Time to tough it out and deal!!

[InNeed88]

Thanks for writing guys, I'm doing ok today..Which is scaring me a little only cause i'm not sure if the worst is yet to come. It's been almost 48 hours with no pills YAY!! The cravings really do come and go at this point, and i still just don't have energy but i never did before even on the pills * until 11pm when i should be sleeping than for some reason i was awake*
I have been taking all the vitamins like crazy, Drinking a bunch of those vitamin waters * love them* and i'm just trying to keep positive.
The first night i obviously didn't sleep AT ALL, But I went and got the Hylands RLS stuff and man that WORKS!!! I actually got some decent sleep last night, I wouldn't say great by any means but i at least was asleep for awhile.
I feel kinda normal, But i'm not sure thats cause theres still some opiates in my system, I just hope at some point i just have my energy back cause its still hard to get out of bed!!!

[redbull]

For some reason this post has touched me. I look at the progress every morning just hopeing that you've posted, knowing full well the state you're in right this minute. As you can see on this forum, many many people just like you have stopped the madness. My thoughts and Prayers are with you and your family.

[ready4mylifeback]

just wondering how u r feeling? hope u r doing ok just keep pushing through that is what i am doing... pushing for u it will be so much better when we can have our lives back... i was clean for over 3 yrs best by far part of my life i miss it:)

[InNeed88]

Thank you so much Sunny,
That means alot...I'm sitting here at work DYING! Well not literally but it kinda feels like it...I just feel like my whole body weighs like 1000000 pounds. I've almost hit my 24 hour mark, and as proud as i am about that i still wanna crawl in to a hole right now.
thank you everyone so much for you support it really is what's getting me through this right now

[SunnysideUP27]

Good morning, I hope that yours is!! I understand your pain and frustration. I am almost 70 days clean from Opiate Norco 10/325 for almost 7 years. Started like 2 a day until I hit that 20 or so mark in my last year. It was gradual but increased to that high number. Anyway, CT is definitely the way to go. You just get it over with instead of prolonging the inevitable. I just wanted to let you know that it is so hard but doable. The first 5-7 days are tough physically but the mental part is so much harder. It will be a tough road for you but you can do it. I feel soooo much better but I still have my days. Dont let anyone lie to you and tell you its 5 days and your free becuase that is bull. The good thing about it is that you have moments of clarity after you quit. You will do just fine just remember your health and your life which you will be getting back slowly day by day as the posion gets out of your system. Dont get 2-3 weeks in and think I dont feel any better and then fall off again. Most of us takes months to feel that GREAT feeling and even then it fades away at times. Life isnt about always feeling great. ON drugs we mask the daily struggles and stresses of life. Off drugs we learn to cope with them  God bless and be strong. YOu have people out there rooting for you.

[InNeed88]

Well here I am, Exhausted and just cant sleep..This damn RLS i just cant stop, It's like i'm asleep but not all at the same time, I feel like i just want to crawl out of my skin!! This isnt fun....Sorry for ranting just dont havve anyone i can call or talk to

[InNeed88]

Thanks Mary, I sure hope so...the only thing that worries me is how quickly my body starts feelng W/Ds after my last pill...From the experiances ive heard from everyone here there wd didnt kick in as quickly or as strong for that quick

[mary577]

I vote for CT.  The amount you are taking....3 to 6 a day, is very do-able.  I have found that more people fear withdrawal.....(I did too....I didn't know what to expect)....than is necessary.   I can only tell you that for me....and I am nearly 66 years old....it wasn't anything I couldn't handle.   I don't want to do it again....and don't plan to, but I could.  

I say get on with it and get it over.   You have your doctor to back you up.   Post often here and let some of us walk you through it.   Many people can't taper.  

Don't be afraid.   In a few days you will feel better.   You're young, and you will bounce back.

[Beenthere8888]

Technically you are right. Lomotil IS an opiate, but a With no euphoria and an extremely low abuse potention. Thanks for catching that.

[Beenthere8888]

I can totally see you point about not telling your employer. Xanax will help, but you'll need something for diarrhea. There are plenty of OTC meds that will work. Drink enough water.
Pharmacologically, I don't see how effective Xanax will be. I've tried it before, and it did not prevent the worst symptom, the restless legs and achy calves. Xanax is a crappy muscle relaxant. There are several different regimes for treating withdrawal, as you have no doubt, gleaned from your Internet browsing. Since so much of this is addiction is psychologic, really committing to this is the key. Good luck. You'll do fine. Keep us posted. I'll be happy to talk to u at any time.

[InNeed88]

Thanks for commenting on here, I would tell my Doc i work for but i acutally just started my job here about a month or so back, So i really dont know him well enough to where i would want that as my reputation right off the bat. I'm not sure the name of those meds you had said were good, As i said in one of my first post's when i told my PCP what was going on for some reason he though Xanax would be best just cause of the anxiety and hopefully helping with getting some sleep, But he also said be very careful taking them and how often to take and such, I've never had a problem abusing any other meds and i know it's not like he'll continue giving me scrips for the xananx so i couldnt even start abusing if i wanted to. I've taken it before and it never sparked my interest , But at this point i just want something that will help with what i'm about to start going thru

[InNeed88]

I'm actually starting tonight, I took my last pill an hour ago exactally and i only took that one so i could have the energy once i'm off work to go to the store and get all the things i will need for all of this and than to get my house cleaned up and make sure all my laundry is done and fridge is full so i can take it easy * as much as one can with still having to work* over the next week or so. So the fun will begin in a few hours!!! I'm proud scared excited and SCARED

[ricart70]

Hi I do believe that lomotil is an opiate

[Beenthere8888]

I'm very proud of you! I quit 2 d ago after 10 years of opiod dependence much, much higher than yours. (I'm a dentist, if that makes you feel any better.)  It started with a back injury, for which I took vicodin. When that didn't work, they cave me percocet, then oxymorphone and morphine with increasing doses. I decided when I finished this last Rx, I would quit. That was 2 days ago. The first day was bad: profuse sweating, restlessness, achey calves, chills, and diarrhea. The only thing that helped was submerging myself in a hot bath with Epsom salts. I called my Internist and he phoned in clonidine 0.1 mg (take 1 twice a day) for the shakes, and Lomotil (take 1-2 up to 4 tmes daily) for diarrhea. Within 30 minutes I was MUCH better. I slept a few hours last night, but was ok, for the most part. I strongly recommend you have you M.D. Phone these 2 Rx in because they're extremely effective and better than substituting with another narcotic, or benzodiazepine. And non-addictive!
I must comment that you need not been ashamed one bit! You took these medicines for legitimate reasons. Not by any fault or your own, addiction sets in, along with tolerance. I think you may underestimate your employer. I know that if an employee of mine confided in me about their problem, I would respect them and be compassionate. Also , I would (by law) keep this confidential and (by law) NOT discriminate against this employee. It's federal law because of the Americans With Disabilities Act. Being honest will help you STOP this permanently. You'll feel so good about yourself for being honest and proud of yourself for not letting your addiction turn your life into a train wreck. I'm proud of you! You can do this, and now is the time.

[waterLilly7]

well then I guess your route will be CT. It really is the best way in my opinion.

Keep up your nutrition and hydration, and post often. When do you plan to start?

hugs,
Lily

[InNeed88]

Plus when i did try to taper, I would start off really good for a few weeks than one day my hip would be KILLING ME and bam back up to where i was before and than i'm back where i started! So that's my other reasoning of thinking maybe c/t

[InNeed88]

I do fully understand what you mean by that, My thing is i just don't want to extend this any longer. Instead of going through months of minor withdrawals i'd rather just get the big show over with in the time period it takes, I'm not sure if my matabloisim is really fast, But if i take a half or even a whole pill within a few hours my W/D's start already, like i know most people say day 2 is when they really kick in, But i get the yawning and stomach upset, and runny nose if i don't take them at a constant.
That and back to the i dont want to extend it longer, I'm just over the pills i want my life  back and i want it now!! I know that this is an uphill battle and things wont be better over night by any means, i just wanna feel i'm working toward my goal

[Life360_Dave]

I in the same boat but maybe you dont understand tapering. When you we are coming down we feel almost panicy and thats really what it is we are panicing. I guanentee that if you break the tap in 1/2 it will help. You feel so bad that you think so a small pc wont be any good but it will work enough to get through the next period. You wont feel totally emphoric as if you took a whole one but you wont have any WD for about 3 1/2 hours. If you have the strengh to go CT then do it but if you can get enough for a 2 month taper program i would advise that route. You have to get the drug out of your system and can either through CT or tapering. Tapering works for me because i am getting used to the WD feeling. When im coming down of the drup now i dont panic i say to myself "here it is again" where with CT its a gigantic slam. Getting to know the feeling you tend not to fight it as much. Its as if it is now part of your self.

[InNeed88]

I'm a dental office manager, So i really cant say to my Dr that i work for, Hey i need a week off he'd kill me..But thankfully we have two offices and if i stop tonight, I dont have patients and this office untill Thur and it's only from 8-2 and than no patients again till Monday...So yes i still have to go into the office to do paperwork  but I wont really have to see anyone or be around anyone, So that kinda helps me just wanna dive in a do C/T

[InNeed88]

I really wish i could just taper, But i dont have that control, Even though i know deep down inside i so badly want off of these things, I just cant do it. Although i've always been an all or nothing type person...So that could be why. I feel in a way that that i'm not getting anywhere with my goal by tapering, Which i know isnt true cause i am getting somewhere , Our stupid minds place games on us! I hate games- Except clue..But this isnt clue and this *****!!

[InNeed88]

Hi Mary...Thanks for the welcome , always good to get advice and hear that were not alone going through this fun time! It really varies on my usage, like i said before it wasn't bad until 2 years ago and it's just gotten worse and worse...Even a year ago i was breaking the 10's i half so maybe took like 2 full pills a day IF THAT! Now i'm taking anywhere from 3-6 full 10's a day, and i was also prescribed Vicaprohen so I would alternate that in there as well.

I'm scared cause my boyfriend , whom i live with says he supports me..But when it really comes down to it, and i'm a total ***** going through the w/d's i have a feeling it's going to  be a disaster!!  I'm also scared he'll be like o here just take a pill you'll feel better *and be nicer* Which we all know that's not what we need, We cant handle that temptation of being like o take this you'll be better, We need someone saying NO MORE for you!!!

Although, My Doctor who i've been seeing for years, I told him the jist of things bottom line he knows that i badly want to stop taking these things, and he's 100% behind me, Were really close since i've been a patient for so long so i actually have his cell number and we text occasionally so he is gonna keep checking up on me during this time and he said that if i need anything to let him know, Which makes me feel better that i have that support. He is calling me in some Xanax to help with the anxiety and so i can get some sleep.
I'm also going to get  a bunch of vitamins , I read both the thomas reciepe and the amino acid protocol and im gonna pull some from both and see what happens. If you guys have any hints or tips for me they would be greatly appreciated.

I just want to feel like my self again, I want to be happy!!

[waterLilly7]

I fyou absolutley can't miss work, then a taper may be better for you. I tapered for two months due to my job. It is not pleasant, it drags the WD out, but you can start a taper on thursday, so you feel like crap over the weekend, and by monday you are better, and then taper again thursday,a nd so on. That is how I did it. I didn't want to though, as CT is easier, but it did allow me to save my job.
I am different than your average narcotic bear in that I knew that I did not want totake any more than i needed to taper, and never got a craving to take one for any other reason than to taper. I started disolving them in water when I couldn't cut them any smaller, and taking the liquid doses, down to 2 mg every 6 hours until i jumped off.

The jump of fis till not pretty, but it's more mental than physical. Due ot the taper I got little of the physical symptoms, mild diarrhea which was fixed right away with immodium, and no nausea really, maybe a little but no throwing up, but the sweats atill come, a couple of says of RLS, and some anxiety, but that ends.

I am 40 days today and I feel great.

If I had to do it over again I would have just put my job and gone CT and then gotten another job.

whichever way you choose to go we will be here for you. better to do it now than wait when it will only be worse.

hugs
Lily

[mary577]

Hello and welcome to the forum.   Norco 10/325 was what I was taking.   How many a day do you take?  I quit CT on June 9th.   It wasn't pleasant but it is certainly do-able.   I had issues with lack of energy for about a month afterwards, but much better now, and no regrets.   I am so glad to be off of them.    

Post often and let us know how you are doing.   So many here have been there and done that and can relate.   Plenty of support here.   Good luck to you.